Bearcats Nip Pioneers, 5-4, as Yamaguchi Provides Winning Point at #5 Singles

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Willamette University rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the team score by winning #4, #5 and #6 singles to defeat Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College, 5-4, in a men's tennis match at the LC Tennis Dome on Friday, Feb. 22.

The overall match was tied 4-4 before Willamette's Colin Yamaguchi (Fr., Damascus, OR/Clackamas HS) defeated Ryotaro Tokura of L&C at #5 singles, 6-3, 6-4.

Willamette upped its record to 1-2 overall, 1-1 in the Northwest Conference. Lewis & Clark dropped to 1-3 overall, 1-2 in the NWC.

The Bearcats seemed to be in a rallying mood throughout the evening. In doubles, the Bearcats trailed 4-1 in all three matches before charging into the lead at #1 and #2 doubles.

At #1 doubles, Joshua Wong (Sr., Hilo, HI/Hilo HS) and Samuel Wexman (Fr., Tiburon, CA/Gamiscal HS) of WU went on to trail 5-2 before defeating Daniel Hahm and Kevin Ross of L&C, 8-5.

The Bearcat team of Will Cooper (Jr., Gresham, OR/Centennial HS) and Devin Abney (So., Shoreline, WA/Shorecrest HS/Univ. of Redlands) also trailed 5-2 at #2 doubles, but rallied to defeat Carter Gee-Taylor and Scott Monismith, 8-6.

Lewis & Clark won #3 doubles, with Tokura and Lucas Fodor defeating Will Agnew, Svoboda and Jack Schreiber (So., Solana Beach, CA/The Grauer School), 8-1.

The Pioneers moved into a 4-2 lead by registering wins at the top three singles positions. Kevin Ross of L&C downed Wexman of WU in the #1 singles match, 6-2, 6-3. Gee-Taylor won #2 singles and Daniel Hahm triumphed at #3 singles.

WU needed to win all three of the remaining matches to secure the team victory. Schreiber defeated Monismith in two close sets at #4 singles, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), and Blake Brash (Fr., Boise, ID/Boise HS) moved past Fodor at #6 singles, 6-3, 6-0, leaving only the #5 singles match in progress.

Yamaguchi was able to win in straight sets, holding off Tokura for the 6-3, 6-4 win, giving WU first-year Head Coach Rick Wood his first regular season dual match victory.